Getting Started — Tier 1 Desktop Miner
What you need
- •RTL-SDR V3 or V4 dongle (~$30 online)
- •Windows 10 or later
- •USB 2.0 port
- •Azimuth account (free at azimuth.day)
Install the software
- Download the installer from the download page
- Run the Windows installer (the standalone headless daemon installer is temporarily unavailable — an updated build ships shortly)
- Follow the Windows installer prompts (installs as a Windows service)
- Note: Windows SmartScreen may warn — click "More info" → "Run anyway"
Create your account
- Go to azimuth.day and sign up
- Navigate to your dashboard
- Copy your API key from the dashboard settings
Run the setup wizard
Open Azimuth from the Start Menu or run azimuth-daemon --setup
Walk through 5 steps:
- Welcome — verify prerequisites
- Paste your API key and validate
- Name your node and set location
- Select your RTL-SDR device and choose gain mode
- Review and start mining
Verify it's working
- ✓Dashboard shows ONLINE status
- ✓Signal table populates within 30-60 seconds
- ✓Points accumulate as observations submit
- ✓Check azimuth.day/explorer to see your node
Tips
- →Position antenna near a window
- →AGC mode works well for most setups
- →Enable "Start on system boot" in Settings
- →Enable "Auto-update" to stay current